Why Arsene Wenger Commands A Lot Of Respect In Africa...

Call him Mr.Bean: Call Le Professeur: Call him The Economist and how to pique the mind, the man Arsene Wenger has got it all...

The above heading elicits a great deal of excitement when we hear of the name Arsene Wenger."Le Professeur ", as the Arsenal tactician is also known in the corridors of football. Wenger is one of the most respected and the second longest serving manager in the English Premier League,having been at the helm of affairs at the Highbury Grounds and the Emirate Stadium respectively for close to 17 years,and arguably one of the best managers the world of football has ever seen.

ARSENE WENGER

Almost everyone in Africa and the world as whole agrees thet,when it comes to getting the job done,the man in context here,executes the job to perfection.But of all this,Wenger stands out tall among other managers due mainly to his eye in spotting young talents particularly from Africa.He has carved a niche for himself for spotting talents and nurturing them to be who they are today.He is one of the managers who has retained a focus on developing a youth system,where his club develop young prodigies instead of buying experience and expensive ones,which has resulted to several criticism for sticking closely to his principle,with some people refering to him as a stingy man who brings his nature of economics to bare on transfer market season.

On the other hand,the former AS Monaco manager has a huge followers in Africa,because most soccer loving fans has come to terms with the style of play: the free flowing cum entertaining football that has thrilled many of us.But one many response that Arsene team,may not be winsome or invincible any longer as they were ,having gone 7 years without winning a silverware but the scale of preference to many ardent football lovers in Africa is his continue in harnessing the talent of youngsters from Africa,one thing he has never been afraid to do,which is something highly admirable and has won a place in the heart of many African: a trend he started at Franace,which we are still witnessing now at Arsenal

Now a run down to some of the players from Africa who has work under Arsene Wenger during his time at Monaco and now Arsenal........

Arsene Wenger first African he nurtured { if my memories selves me right] was when a certain GEORGE OPPONG MANNEH WEAH left Cameroon side Tonnerre Yaounde to AS Monaco,through Wenger's invitation and scouting prowess.Weah was re-shape and developed into a star in his playing days.Through the sheer brilliance of Wenger,the forward expliot with Monaco and went on to have a fruitful career Italy,which was punctuated by winning a host of accolades in 1995 including the Ballon D'or,which to date the only African to do so.Weah became delight to watch as he was fast like a cheetah ,always a good customer in front of goals.The former Ac Milan dribbler success story cannot be narrated by not mentioning the name of Wenger.

Wenger drive for Africa players still continued when he was appointed the manager of Premier League side Arsenal in 1996,then relative unknown to the English football,the Evening Standard in UK greeted his appointment with the headline "ARSENE WHO?" and the then team captain Tony Adams was quoted as " At first,i thought : What does this Frenchman know about football?He wears glasses and looks more like a schoolteacher,He's not going to be good as George Graham.Does he even speak English properly?"

But of all this comment,Wenger was not derailed from his vision .A month later ,Wenger advised the club to sign French midfielder,PATRiCK VIEIRA, a Senegalese born,but France nationality due to his grandfather who served in the French Army ,making him eligible for French Nationality.

Vieira born in Dakar,Senegal to a Senegalese father and a Cape Verdean Mother,joined Arsenal in September 1996 from Milan for 3.5 million pounds.Undoubtedly,it is under Arsene Wenger Arsenal that help him to rose to prominence due to his height,stamina and physical strength which help him to settle into the English game quickly,whiles his composure and the quality of his passing cemented his position in the Arsenal squad.Vieira remains one of the favourite players of Arsenal fans.

Beside this,Wenger went in again to acquire the service of another Liberian striker,CHRISTOPHER WREH,who is believe to a cousin of George Weah,in the summer of 1997 from AS Monaco.Wreh,who had previously featured under Wenger during his days at Monaco,reunite with Wenger to continue where he left.He play his part in the team Double in 97 and 98 winning campaign.

Out of the blues in February 1999,Nigerian born NWANKWO CHRISTIAN NWOSU KANU was on his way to Arsenal for 4.5million pounds from Inter Milan in the wake of Anelka's departure to Real Madrid.The former Ajax striker success story of becoming one of the blue-eyed in African Football cannot be told without giving credit to Arsene Wenger,who help transform Kanu to be a world class player and a good goal poacher.Kanu is notably,remember for his classic hat trick against Chelsea ,in which one of the goals was scored parallel to the goal line.He was voted 13th in the "Gunners Greatest 50 players" Poll.

Another African who don the jersey of Arsenalis nobody that LAUREN BISAN ETAME MAYER commonly known as LAUREN.A Cameroon by birth,he joined Arsenal in the summer of 2000 for a fee of 7.2milllion pounds.Characterised by injuries in his time at Arsenal,but nevertheless ,Wenger gave him time to recover and from his recovery,he proved to be integral part of the Arsenal defence.Arguably,it is his time at Arsenal that Lauren became a household name in Africa amd beyond..

One of the best chapters to me in KOLO HABIB TOURE career,is how Wenger transformed him to become one of the finest centre-backs ,forming an excellent partnership with Sol Campbell at the heart of Arsenal's defence.Kolo Toure perhaps,may goeas down as one of the Frenchman's most astute signings of all time for Arsene Wenger,due to how he trek down Africa precisely to Abidjan to pick a relative unknown Kolo from ASEC Mimosas for just 150,000 pounds in February 2002.On the other hand,that same year ,Arsenal head of youth development,Liam Brady spotted Amsterdam born with Ghanaian parents,QUINCY OWUSU-ABEYIE,who was then with Ajax Youth team.After a successful trial offered to him by Wenger,Quincy proved his mettle and later he was given the opportunity to join Arsenal as a scholar in September 2002.But due to lack of first team actions,he left Arsenal,but Wenger ensures that what must be learned at Arsenal,he has acquired that.

The development of EMMANUEL EBOUE and ALEXANDER SONG sum up the genius of Arsene Wenger.An unknown Eboue,who was recruited from the Belgian Club,Beveren,which is popularly known to be the feeder club to ASEC Abidjan.He was probably the most versatile player in the Arsenal squad during his time under Wenger.Quick,skilful and effervescent,he took the game to the levelof been a cult hero at Emirate Stadium

On the other hand,Alex Song, a cousin of former footballer Rigobert Song{ though refers to him as uncle}.Song impressed Arsenal manager as a trialist during a pre-season with Arsenal in Austria.He was first loaned to Arsenal from French Club,Bastia in August 2005,but his performances whiles on loan made Wenger to make his deal permanent .Song held down a regular place in Arsene Wenger's squad till he departed to Barcelona.To me ,it is under Wenger,the Cameroonian international threw off the shackles and truly demonstrated his prowess in defending and attacking.The name of Song became a household name in Africa especially last two season when Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas left to Barcelona and Samir Nasri leaving to Manchester City,leaving him with nothing but doing their work respectively.His form escalated and caught the eyes of Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova..

They may be Africans,but didn't feature for their country of birth,Here a case could be make for this two players,who are JOHAN DJOUROU and FABRICE MUAMBA.

A proud moment for Djourou was when he joined Arsenal as a 16 years old in 2003.He steadily rise through the ranks and finally established himself in the frist team of Arsenal

Fabrice Muamba started his footballing career at Arsenal ,after joining their Academy as a scholarin August 2004.His ebergetic style of play ensures that Fabrice was up for business at Arsenal,but did not command enough playing time at Arsenal resulting to a move away from Arsenal.During his time at Arsenal.he was compared to Ptrick Vieira,due to their similarities in their style of play with and without the ball..

The re-shape of ARMAND TRAORE, the Senegalese defender,has proved to be best for him and club.Traore rose through the ranksLondon Colney,but joined Arsenal from Monaco in 2006.The Senegalese international quickly develop and build a reputation as a quick,strong and positive full back,but first team opportunities were often restricted for the young left back due to the presence of both Clichy and Gibbs.

Nicknamed "Baby Kanu" due to his resemblance to former Arsenal Star Nkwankwo Kanu,whom he idolised as a kid,EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR joined Arsenal from AS Monaco fro a reported 3million pounds on January 2006.Adebayor for a while became a fan favourite,during his most productive campaign in 2007-08 season,scoring 30goals in 40 starts.Good in the air and can score from in and out the box,shouldered an immense burden during the time Henry left Arsenal for Barcelona.The Togolese striker relationship the fans of Arsenal soured and left Arsenal to Manchester City in 2009.

Born in Ghana,but moved to London,at a younger age,Arsenal scouts spotted EMMANUEL YAW FRIMPONG,were he signed for Arsenal at age 9 and began his Arsenal career.Under the stewardship of Wenger,Frimpong has grown to be a strong,tough-tackling midfielder and has has the power to drive a shot from afar.

Described as a prototypical target man and is noted for his tall stature and excellent heading ability,MAROUANE CHAMAKH caught the eyes of Wenger,with his attributes,but many thinks he has failed to prove that to Wenger.But many has forget that his first team opportunities limited due to the form of Robin Van Persie and struggle to gather the momentum needed to kick start his campaign

The last player who has gootten the opportunity to work under Wenger is DANIEL BOATENG,who joined Arsenal in September 2003 and progressed through the ranks.Boateng who was born in London,is a Ghanaian and holds both a Ghanaian passport and a British passport...

About the Author :
I am very fortunate to be able to write about football,that i love for a living.I am the still the same person as i was growing up.No matter what happens ,i just want to be me...With love Ghana..#YWNA